Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-02-21
RESPONDING TO A VETO.
CRITICISM OF THE PRESIDENTS RE-
MARKS ON THE TENSION BILL.

Report in Favor of Passing the Bill, the
Executives Objection Notwithstanding
Speculation on Manning's Successor
Mrs. Cleveland's Reeeption-How the
Congressional Calendars Look.
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 2l-The report
of the committee on pensions TO the house on
the presidents veto of the dependent pen
sions bill, made Saturday, sets forth that no
objection is made to the bill by the presi-
dent ON the ground of constitutionality:
that the first section of the bill is not noticed
by the message although it embodies an in
dependent proposition, and is in the form
urged by the secretary of the interior in his
last annual report; and whether the presi-
dent approves or disapproves of the first
section is unknown. The presidents obiec-
tions, that the bill is vague in its provisions,
and that it might apply to various grades of
disability or dependency, are analyzed, and
the committee submits, for the Judgment of
the house, TINT those who framed the bill
aft-r months of consideration have made no
mistake, and have confinef the bill to one
well-defined class, consisting OF those totally
disabled or dependent on their daily labor
for support.
The committee regrets the strained inter
probation put on the bill in the message as
an excuse rather than reason for returning
it to the house The committee cannot un-
derstand how the president could bave over
looked in another measure the Mexican
pension bib what are alleged to be faults in
the present measure. The committee be.
lieves that this distinction will not be in
dorsed by the patriotic sentiment of the
country, and thinks that the presidents esti-
mate of the expenditure which the enact
ment of the bill would make necessary is ex-
travagant, and asserts that no consideration
of possible cost should be allowed to enter
into the question.
Considering the question as one of money
eXpediency the committee thinks that the
surplus in the treasury could not be restored
to the people in a better manner than that
proposed by the bill 1t would go to the peo-
pie in small amounts, and not to huge mo-
nopolies. The measure had been asked for
on every hand. Protests against it had
come only from money centers. The general
tone of the message was to be taken as an
expression in advance of the presidents pur-
ther legislation that would add any new
class to the pension list, based on the Idea
that the country was against it. There was
a sentiment OF that kind, but the committee
thought it was not a controlling one. The
country did not wish that the defenders OF
the nations honor and life should live in
misery and want during their declining
Years. The committee further believes that
If more taxes, or different kind of taxes,
We're necessary to meet the demand, they
would be cheerfully paid by the people The
committee therefore submits its bill again for
the Judgment of the house, and asks that it
receive the most rigid criticism, believing
that it will tend to strengthen rather than to
weaken it. In conclusion the committee
recommends without dissenting voice that
the bill pass notwithstanding the objections
OF the president. Applause greeted the con-
GLIDING sentences